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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. pop — soda
  3. bank — for money
  4. bank — for money
  5. cue — for pool
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. cell — a phone
  9. pop — music
  10. cue — a hint
  11. rash — hasty
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bank — of a river
  15. craft — boats
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. cell — in biology
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. pop — to visit
  21. rash — a series
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. cue — a signal
  24. craft — a skill

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com